Cheap Twilight Zone Vol 40 (DVD) (Ida Lupino, Alvin Ganzer, Richard Donner, Allen Reisner, John Rich, William F. Claxton, Ralph Nelson, Bernard Girard, David Greene, Don Medford) Price

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Customer Reviews of Twilight Zone Vol 40

Despite Carol Burnett, a below-average set of Zones
Volume 40 in "The Twilight Zone" DVD collection certainly offers an assortment of episodes from the classic television series, although none of them comes close to qualifying as a classic Zone. Carol Burnett is klutzy usherette Agnes Grep in "Cavender Is Coming," written by Rod Serling, who loses her job and meets Cavender (Jesse White), a bungling angel. Cavender gives Agnes a fortune and a mansion, but the catch is that none of her old friends remember her and they no longer adore her. Serling wrote this episode specifically for Burnett, although the story is obviously borrowed from "Mr. Bevis," which was a failed attempt at a pilot. However, surprisingly, the script handicaps the comedienne way too much and this is just not as funny as it should be. "Passage on the Lady Anne," written by Charles Beaumont, finds ambitious Allan Ransome (Lee Philips) having to go to Europe on business. In a last-ditch effort to save their marriage, his wife Eileen (Joyce Van Patten), demands to go on the trip and to be allowed to pick the form of transportation. She picks the Lady Anne, the slowest ship afloat. However, the couple soon agree to divorce, which devastates Eileen. But the Lady Anne was one a ship reserved for lovers and all the other passengers are 75 years old taking a final cruise on the ship, and they decide to help the young couple. The supporting cast of elderly actors including Wilfrid Hyde-White, Cecil Kellaway, Gladys Cooper and Alan Napier are joys to see and make this one of the few tolerable hour-long Zone episodes. Finally, Serling's "The Brain Center at Whipple's" finds callous factory owner Wallace V. Whipple (Richard Deacon) has completely automated his factory, putting thousands out of work. Of course, since this is the Zone, irony will come calling on Whipple. A rather predictable outting. Although I like "Passage on the Lady Anne," this is a below average collection of Zone episodes.

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A good Mixture of Episodes
CAVENDER IS COMING seems to have some inspiration from Frank Capra's "It's A Wonderful Life" as angel Jesse White must earn his wings by aiding a screwball human played by Carol Burnett. This is one of the few episodes that I saw for the first time ever on this DVD. My original expectations were low, but I was pleasantly surprised by some innovative photography, stunts and Burnett's excellent performance. Rod Serling actually wrote a very good comic episode from which the viewer can actually make parallels to real life situations thanks in part to Burnett's energetic approach to her part. Greatly underrated. PASSAGE ON THE LADY ANNE credited to writer Charles Beaumont from the 4th Season is an interesting story of a troubled couple's (Joyce Van Patten and Lee Phillips) attempt to rekindle their marriage aboard an antiquated ocean liner the Lady Anne. However, the antiquated ship's passengers consist solely of the elderly. The cast really makes this an enjoyable episode. It includes Wilfred Hyde-White, Gladys Cooper, Cecil Kellaway and Alan Napier. THE BRAIN CENTER AT WHIPPLE'S written by Rod Serling for the 5th Season seems to tread familiar territory which had been previously visited and done much better. It focuses on industry, man and machines. It features Richard Deacon, Paul Newlan, Ted DeCorsia and Burt Conroy. I never met an episode of the "Twilight Zone" that I didn't like. I just like some more than others. I am sure that for some people this episode holds some endearment. And that is the magic of the "Twilight Zone."